Coaster



Oct. 9, 1951 1 C, KASMAN 2,570,954

CoAsTER Y Filed Jan. 31, 195o IN VEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES TENT oli-"FICE- 3 Claims.

The invention relates to coasters and has reference more particularly toa coaster of resilient material and which will automatically eilect agrip with the tumbler requiring a positive act to release or remove thecoaster.

The coaster of the invention may be formed of soft resilient rubberalthough eXible plastics and similar materials may be used. An object isto provide such a coaster with inwardly directed lips or protuberanceswhich will be deflected downwardly upon insertion of a tumbler to formgripping means holding the coaster to the tumbler. A

Another object is to provide a coaster that is approximately cup-shapedin cross section, having a partial top wall providing inwardly directedlips for eiiecting a grip with a glass o1' plastic tumbler inserted intothe coaster.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coaster ysuch asdescribed which will have an absorbent base member on which. the tumbleris adapted to rest and which will absorb the water or moisture draininginto the coaster from the tumbler.

Another object is to provide a coaster such' as described which willautomatically grip a tumbler inserted into the coaster and which tumblercan be lifted with the coaster adhering thereto and also the tumbler canbe tilted without spilling any water from the coaster.

With these and various other objects in view, the invention may consistof certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be morefully described and particularly pointed out Ain the specification,drawings and claims appended hereto. K In the drawings which illustratean embodiment of the invention and wherein like reference characters areused to designate like parts- Figure l is an elevational view of atumbler with the coaster of the invention in associated relationtherewith;

Figure 2 is a top plan View of the coaster showing one form of lipprojecting inwardly from the top wall;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the coaster taken on line 3 3 ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional View showing the gripping action of the lips ona tumbler inserted in the coaster; and

Figure 5 is a top plan View of a modied form of coaster having inwardlydirected lips of different shape.

The coaster of the invention as disclosed in the embodiment selected forthe drawings is ap- (Cl. (i5-53) proximately bowl orkcup-shaped,consisting ofl a circular base Ill, annular' sidewalls I2 andan open top wall Mm The coaster is preferably formed of soft resilientrubber although flexible` and resilient plastics and other materials of.this nature may be employed. In order 'to strengthen the base thethickness of the same. is slightly greater than the annular side wallsI2 and to' improve the gripping action of the top wallvtliei said sidewalls diverge outwardly from the base.Y

This locates the rounded edget I6"at some distance from the tumbler wheninserted in the coaster. At least the rolled edge f6" is spaced from thetumbler a distance slightly greaterthan the peripheral edge of the baseIIJ.

In accordance with the invention the tcp wall I4 is formed with anopening of any shape such as will provide inwardly directed lips orprotuberances designated` I8, Figure 2. The lips IB are separated bychannel openings 2li and this alternate arrangement of' lips andopenings accentuates the flexibility of the lips whereby to increasetheir gripping action with respect to a tumblerinserted in the coaster`f In Figure 5 the top wall It of the coaster is provided with an openingof somewhat diierent shape than Figure 2, which, however, providesinwardly directed lips or protuberances 22. Also the lips are separatedby channel openings 24 which extend close to the rolled edge I6 so as togive to the lips maximum flexibility in order to improve their grippingaction.

Figures 1 and 4 disclose a tumbler 26 in associated relation with thecoaster. Upon insertion of the tumbler in the coaster the lips I8 or 22are deflected downwardly and the lips automatically effect a grip withthe side wall of the coaster. The gripping action of the lips on theside walls of the coaster is Such as to hold the coaster to the tumblerand the tumbler can be lifted and the coaster will still adhere thereto.As a matter of fact, it takes a positive act to separate the coasterfrom the tumbler and when from. When the pad 28 has absorbed consider-`able moisture it is removed and the liquid squeezed therefrom and thenthe pad is reinserted. In addition to acting as .an absorbent pad,element 2B also helps to cushion the base Il) for receiving the tumbler.

In lifting the tumbler for drinking, the coaster can be gripped by theuser or if the tumbler is gripped, the coaster will nevertheless adherethereto by reason of the gripping action of the lips as previouslyexplained. Also it is possible for the coaster to contain considerableliquid notwithstanding the absorbent pad 28 and this liquid will notspill out when the tumbler is tilted. This is due to the fact that theopenings 20 or 24, 'although'extending close to the rounded edge I6, donot extend into the edge and accordingly any liquid which may collect inthe coaster is prevented from overowing when the coaster is tilted.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction ofthe particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings as Variousother forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled inthe art without `departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the claims.

What is claimed ist 1. In a coaster of soft eXible rubber, a base havingan upstanding side wall around the periphery thereof and which divergesoutwardly in an upward direction, atop wall connecting with the sidewall by means of a rolled edge around the periphery of said walls, saidtop wall having a thickness to promote flexibility and having a centeropening of a shape to form lips, and said lips being bent downwardlyupon the insertion of a tumbler through the open top wall and as aresult having a gripping action on the tumbler to hold the coaster tothe same.

2. In a coaster of exible and resilient material, a base of substantialthickness to impart rigidity to the same and having an upstanding sidewall around the periphery thereof, said side wall diverging outwardlyinv an upward direction and terminating in a rolled edge, a top wallconnected to the side wall around the periphery of the top wall by saidrolled edge, said top wall having a center opening of a shape to formlips andwhich have a thickness to promote flexibility of the lips,whereby said lips are bent downwardly upon the insertion of a tumblerthrough the open top wall and as a result have a gripping action on thetumbler to hold the coaster to the same.

3. In a coaster of exible and resilient material, a base having anupstanding side wall around the periphery thereof, a top wall joined tosaid side wall by means of a rounded edge located between the two wallsand extending around the periphery of said top wall, said top wallhaving a thickness to promote exibility and having a center opening ofapproximately star shape to form flexible lips that extend inwardly, andsaid lips being bent downwardly upon insertion of a tumbler through theopen top Wall and as a result having a gripping action on the tumbler tohold the coaster to the same.

JOHN C. KASMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 264,163 Hurlbut Sept. 12, 18821,957,263 Gray May 1, 1934 2,329,512 Clifford, Jr. Sept. 14, 19432,486,907 Amberg et al Nov. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date9,676 Great Britain Apr. 29, 1903 264,285 Great Britain Jan. 20, 1927285,772 Great Britain Feb. 23, 1928 517,741 Great Britain Feb. 7, 1940810,717 France Jan. 6, 1937 197,299 Germany Apr. 9, 1908 378,152 ItalyJan. 24, 1940

